And what it depends on, of course, is whether the story itself is worth the ethical compromise it requires and whether the competition is onto the story.

No matter what name we give it or how we judge it, a candidate's character is central to political reporting because it is central to a citizen's decision in voting.

Sexual behavior was also generally considered off limits.

The relationship between press and politician - protected by the Constitution and designed to be happily adversarial - becomes sour, raw and confrontational.